Community Programming and Activities: 2020-21

Juneteenth – A Holiday of Hope

On June 19, the United States celebrates Juneteenth, also known as Emancipation Day, Black Independence Day or Jubilee Day. Juneteenth marks the day – June 19, 1865 – on which enslaved Africans in Galveston, Texas, learned from Union soldiers that they were free. Texas was the most remote of the slave states, and the freedom proclaimed in the Emancipation Proclamation in 1863 was not enforced there until 1865, after the U.S. Civil War had ended.

Juneteenth challenges us to remember that racism is rooted in the foundation of the United States, and its effects are still being experienced today.

Firmly rooted in the Gospel of Jesus Christ and the legacy of the Sisters of Mercy, Mercy Education affirms: “Racism in all its forms contradicts Catholic Social Teaching, which calls for respect for the human dignity of every person.

Merion Mercy's Black Student Union hosted a Juneteenth celebration on Friday, June 18 at 4 p.m. at Lemon Hill in Philadelphia.

As we commemorate this day, we ask ourselves: what more must we do to continue our important work to address and oppose racism? Our collective journey to respond to the Mercy Critical Concern for anti-racism is far from over.

 

BSU Showcase 2021

Click here to view a recording of the 2021 BSU Showcase.

 

HERstories of Black Women from Our MMA Community

As we mark Black History Month, we celebrate Black innovators and creators throughout our academic and co-curricular programs! Our Black Student Union (BSU) led the way with educational segments on our daily student news program, Good Morning Merion, and through social media. BSU annually hosts a marquee event during Black History Month. This year, the Black HERstory Showcase honors courageous black women in our history and how they impacted the world. We also shared HERstories of Black women from our MMA community—remarkable women of passion and purpose. 

Student and Faculty Attend the Student Diversity Leadership Conference and the People of Color Conference

We are thrilled that the following students are participating in the National Association of Independent Schools Student Diversity Leadership Conference from December 1st - December 4th:

  • Manaii Beckwith '22

  • Sofia Folgia '22

  • Nancy Lam '21

  • Liseth Mejia '22

  • Mira Tensuan-Eli '22

  • Nina Thompson '22

They join 2,060 independent school students from around the nation. The theme this year is "Keeping it Real in Independent Schools: bringing our real selves, connecting in real time, making real change."

In addition, the following faculty and staff members are attending the People of Color Conference: 

  • Barbara Harrison

  • Emily Multari

  • Valerie Prucnal

  • Briana Scott

  • Philip Vinogradov

  • Suzanne Walker

The theme is "New Decade, New Destinies: Challenging Self, Changing Systems, and Choosing Justice."

Student Affinity Groups Begin

What is an Affinity Group? What kind of groups does MMA have? When do they meet? Which students are leading the groups? 

To find out detailed answers to these questions, view our our slideshow, here. 

 

Faculty and Staff Continue Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Work

The group participated in a professional development day with another workshop led by our DEI consultant Trina Gary, CEO and Principal Consultant at Brown-Gary Associates, LLC, entitled, "Make Visible the Air We Breathe—Utilizing the ACT Paradigm™."
 

Allies Against Racism Affinity Group and the Sisters of Mercy Put Mercy in Action by Taking a Stand Against Racism

Merion Mercy Academy's Allies Against Racism Affinity Group and the Sisters of Mercy put Mercy in Action on the eve of Mercy Day (the anniversary of the opening of the first House of Mercy in Ireland in 1827) by taking a Stand Against Racism.

Message from Mercy Education System of the Americans (MESA) on National Hispanic Heritage Month 
 

"For our Mercy community, National Hispanic Heritage Month, celebrated from September 15 to October 15, invites us to reflect on and celebrate the richness our Hispanic sisters and brothers bring to the tapestry of the United States.

We are proud of the diversity of our international system of Mercy education ministries, and we honor the history, culture and contributions of Hispanic staff, educators, students and alumni/alumnae at our schools."

MESA offers several resources to schools, teachers, and students. Please click here to learn more.

Faculty Workshop: ACT (Art Curating Truth) Paradigm

 

Merion Mercy’s faculty and staff in-service focused on our continued DEI work. Trina Gary of Brown-Gary Associates conducted a workshop on the ACT (Art Curating Truth) Paradigm. This summer, members of MMA's faculty and staff also participated in close to 30 unique DEI programs, including the five-week, Mercy Volunteer Corps Anti-Racism Prayer and Share, that 27 faculty and staff members attended.